Don't read this if you are Pam

I had a feeling someone would say that!

Welllll... what do you want? What is your vision of pregnancy and birth, what role do you see a midwife playing in it? What do you especially want a midwife to do (or be able to do)? What do you not want a midwife to do? You must have some preferences. Write all that stuff down, and that is what you should ask her about.

I guess that's the problem, I can't seem to bend my mind around to it...maybe because I'm not pg, KWIM? I think I'll go read a bunch of homebirth stories and get inspired.

Let's just say you can have the birth of your dreams. Any birth you want. What would that look like? What would you need? Prenatally, what do you envision? Information about all your options and choices? Emotional support? Nutrition information?

Many people ask general questions, like how many births I've been to, what sort of complications I've dealt with, what do I bring to a birth, etc. They ask about what happens if there are two women in labor at the same time, if I have supportive physicians to refer to, etc.

Some people have specific requests - like they want to be left alone most of the time with their partner, or they want to birth outside, or they want their children to be involved in the birth (confirming the sex of the baby, cutting the cord, etc.), they want quiet support close by, catching their own baby, etc.

I know I wasn't supposed to read this, but I thought these might give you some good things to think about and a platform to jump off of.

Hey you! Get out!

Now thats just funny. I wonder how my MW would feel about that. I don't think DH would be up for it, but i'm vastly amused.

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Just like to add, I wish Pam could be my midwife too!

Ok, here I go so far.

Stuff I'm thinking about the birth:
No one touches me unless I ask them to
Be in living room
Have a fire if it's cold.
Time alone
Time alone with Adam
Soft lighting
Ice to chew on
Counter pressure on my back
Cold cloths
Ginger tea
Music for early labor, games, funny stuff early, in-between contractions
Party afterwards if I feel up to it, otherwise SLEEP
Adam and I get to hold the baby first (I didn't get to hold ds for about a half hour, even though he was fine )

Questions:

What if the baby needs resuscitation?

What kinda stuff do you do after the birth?

When do you transport?

What happens if I go to the hospital?

How do I pay you?

How on earth do I afford you?

How many births have you attended?

Under what circumstances have you had to transport?

What do you bring to the birth?

Are there herbs etc. I should use now in anticipation of conception?

How far overdue will you let a mama go?

Isn't my house too dirty?

What if I freak out and want to go to the hospital?

What should I do to control my blood sugar?

Have you attended lots of other ummm, overweight moms with GD?

Should I see the evil (s)OB's at Kaiser in case I have to transport?

What about waterbirth? I don't know anything about it since the birth center I went with before wouldn't allow it.

What are vaginal exams for? Do I have to have them? When?

How often will I see you for prenantal care?

Hmm, I'm on a roll now!

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Yeah, I feel a little like royalty

Well now she's gonna be all ready for you!

Those are GREAT questions!!! See, you didn't need our help at all.

Pam, can I ask where you are in Oregon?

I live in WA, but close to the boarder and was wondering if just how far you were!

another here, Pam

great ?s, brandywine!

Just wanted to update and say that I got all my questions answered and I's SO EXCITED!!! Now I just need to :

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Heh heh. Too funny--Malcolm was nekkid and in the tub with me when Soren was born! Betcha didn't know that!

To everyone else, I had the good fortune of knowing Pam personally and she caught my daughter nearly four years ago (can you believe it's been nearly four years?!?) and can personally testify to how awesome and amazing she was (is) as a midwife. I trust her implicitly and recommend her without reservation. And yeah, wish she could clone herself so that geography was a non-issue!

Seriously...Pam, I have begun to think that we moved to Oregon JUST so you could support me through Chiara's birth. I think, ultimately, that was the only reason we were there.

Seriously.